Shipping container



1952 J. 5. DONNELL.

SHIPPING CONTAINER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Sept. 7, 1950 1952 J. 5. DONNELL ,6 ,4

' SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Sept. 7, 1950 '2 mus-s am 2 Patented Nov. 18, 1952 7 SHIPPING CONTAINER John S. Donnell, Sarasota, Fla., assignor to Florida Fibre Box Company, Sarasota, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application September 7, 1950, Serial No. 183,565

6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to containers. More particularly, the invention relates to that type of container which is designed as an instrument or a medium for use in shipping fruit, vegetables or other articles, is formed of comparatively stiff material, such, for example, as double faced corrugated board, and as its parts or components comprises a rectangular open top box-like body and a complemental cover which is adapted when in place to close the open top of the body, and consists of a rectangular top and depending ends and sides.

One object of the invention is to provide a shipping container of this type which is an improvement upon and has certain inherent advantages over previously designed containers of the same general construction, and is characterized by the fact that it embodies a novel and effective releasable locking arrangement for securing the cover in its closed position with rcspect to the rectangular open top box-like body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shipping container of the type under consideration in which the releasable locking arrangement for securing the cover in its closed position is in the form of two bendable locking tongues which are formed as integralparts. of th central portions of the ends of the body, and are adapted to be inserted or threaded through adjacent slots in the top and endsv of the cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shipping container of the last mentioned type and character in which the central portions of the end margins of the top of the cover have longitudinally extending slots for receiving the locking tongues when the cover is mounted in its closed position on the body, and the ends of the cover consist of spaced apart outer and inner walls and have formed in the central portions of their outer walls longitudinally extendin slots into which the tongues may be inserted after being bent outwards and downwards around the portions of the outer walls of the cover ends that are above the last mentioned slots.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shipping container of the aforementioned character in which the central portions of the locking tongues are provided with U -shaped cuts to form ears which are adapted when the tongues are in their locked position, wherein they extend. downwards through the longitudinally extending slots in the central portions of the outer walls of the ends of the cover to be bent inwards into underlying and interlocked relation with the parts of the outer walls that define the top portions of said slots.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shipping container which is generally of new and improved construction, and is so designed that the releasable locking arrangement for securing the cover in its closed or operative position does not add to or *increase the cost of the container as a whole.

, Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present shipping container will be apparent from the following detailed description.

, The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by the claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts of the several views:

Figure 1 is a top perspective showing a shipping container embodying the invention with the locking tongues thereof in their locked position wherein they serve securely but releasably to hold the cover of the container in its closed position;

Figure 2 is a top perspective of the rectangular open top box-like body of the container, illustrating in detail the manner in which the ear equipped locking tongues are formed as integral parts of the central portions of the ends of the body;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the cover of the container showing the construction of the cover ends and illustrating the location of the slots for receiving the locking tongues;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the body of th container;

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the cover in its closed position and releasably secured in place by the locking tongues, and illustrating in detail the manner in which the ears on the central portions of the tongues so interlock with the portions of the outer walls of the cover ends that define the top parts of the longitudinal tongue receiving :slots in the central portions of the outer walls of the cover ends securely but releasably to hold the tongues in place; v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 6--6 of Figure 1; and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary end elevation of the container with certain parts removed and other parts shown in section for purposes of illustraion.

The container which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is primarily designed for use in shipping different articles such, for example, as fruit and vegetables and consists of a rectangular open top box-like body Ill and a complemental cover 5! for closing the open top of the body. The body and cover are preferably formed of comparatively stiff double faced corrugated board in order that the container as a whole possesses the desired and necessary rigidity and strength.

The container is illustrated as being of materially less height than the width or length although it is to be understood that if desired the container may be of any height. The two components constituting the container are formed of one piece blanks in order that the container is capable of being produced at a low cost.

The body It] consists of a flat rectangular bottom I2, a pair of upstanding sides I3, and a pair of upstanding ends I4. The sides and'ends of the body extend upwards at right angles to the bottom I2 and define with the latter an open top article retaining compartment. The sides I3 of the body I!) are of uniform height from end to and consist of outer walls I5 and inner walls It. The bottom margins of the outer walls l5 are formed integrally with the side margins of the bottom I2 and are connected thereto by right angle folds or bends H. The inner walls I6 of the sides of the body are the same in shape as the outer walls !5 and have the top margins thereof joined to the top margins of the outer walls by inverted U-shaped folds iii. The end margins of the inner walls iii are provided with integral flaps IS, and these extend inwards from and at right angles to said inner walls. Aligned holes are formed in the outer and inner walls I5 and It in order to permit air to enter article retaining compartment for ventilating purposes. The ends I l of the body I!) are the same in height as the sides I3 and consist of outer walls 2i and inner walls 22. The bottom margins of the outer walls 2i are formed integrally with the end margins of the bottom I2 and are connected thereto by right angle folds or bends 23. The end margins of the outer walls 2 I are provided with integral inwardly extending right angle flaps 24 which fit between the end portions of the outer and inner walls of the sides I3 of the body. The inner walls 22 are the same in size as the outer walls 2! and have the top margins thereof joined to the top margins of said outer walls by inverted U-shaped folds 24. The bottom margins of the inner walls 22 are provided with integral downwardly extending tongues 25. These, as best shown in Figures 2, 6 and 7 of the drawings, fit within slots 23 in the end margins of the body bottom I2. The flaps I9 on the end margins of the inner walls I6 of the sides I3 fit between the end portions of the outer and inner walls 2| and 22 of the ends 14 of the body. The central portions of the inner walls 22 of the body ends are die out between their bottom and top edges in order to form locking tongues 21. The latter, as described more in detail hereafter, serve releasably to secure the cover II in its closed position wherein it covers the top of the article retaining compartment that is formed by the bottom, sides and ends of the body. Certain ends of the locking tongues 21 are attached to the central portions of the top margins of the outer walls 2 i by hinge connections 28 in order that the tongues may be swung upwards in a coplanar relation with the outer walls 2! when the cover is mounted in place on the body, and it is desired to use the tongues releasably to secure the cover in place. Preferably the locking tongues are tapered in the direction of their free ends. The tongues are sufficiently flexible so that they may be bent outwards and downwards into their hereinafter described locked position. The central portions of the locking tongues are provided with U-shaped slits 23 and these form or define hinged ears 3!). When the locking tongues are bent outwards and downwards into their 1ocked position the hinge connections between the cars and the central portions of the tongues are located at the bottoms of the ears and permit the ears to be bent or swung inwards.

In assembling the body If of the container outer walls I5 of the sides I3 are swung upwards with respect to the bottom I2 while the inner walls I5 are in substantially coplanar relation therewith. Thereafter the outer walls 2! of the ends of the body are swung upwards with respect to the body bottom while the inner walls 22 are in substantially coplanar relation therewith. After these steps the flaps 24 and the end margins of the outer walls 2| are swung or manipulated into lapped relation with the inner surfaces of the end portions of the outer walls I5. Thereafter the inner walls I6 of the body sides are swung inwards and downwards and the flaps IS on their end margins are swung outwards into lapped relation with the inner surfaces of the end portions of the outer walls 29. At the conclusion of this step or operation the inner walls 22 are swung inwards and downwards. During such swinging of the inner walls 22 the depending tongues 25 move in interlocked relation with the slots 26 in the end margins of the body bottom I2. After assembly of the body the locking tongues 2"! are swung upwards as shown in Figure 2.

The cover I! of the container is shaped to fit over the upper margins of the sides and ends of the body and consist of a fiat rectangular top 3|, a pair of depending sides 32 and a pair of depending ends 33. The top 3i is shaped conformably to but is slightly larger than the bottom I2 of the body Ill. The sides 32 of the cover ii are of single thickness and have the top margins thereof connected to the side margins of the top by right angle folds or bends 33. The end margins of the cover sides 32 are provided with integral inwardly extending right angle flaps 34. The ends 33 of the cover are substantially the same in height as the sides 32 and consist of outer walls 35 and inner walls 36 in spaced relation with the said outer walls. The outer walls 35 have the top margins thereof connected to the end margins 3| by right angle folds or bends 35a. The inner walls 33 of the cover ends have the bottom margins thereof joined to the bottom margins of the outer walls 35 by U- shaped folds 31. The top margins of the inner walls 38 are provided with integral upstanding tongues 38. These fit within slots 39 in the end marginal portions of the cover top 3i. In assembling the cover II the sides 32 are first bent at right angles to the top 3!. Thereafter the outer walls 35 with the inner walls 36 in coplaner relation therewith are bent at right angles to the cover top. After this operation the flaps 34 are swung into abutting relation with the inner surfaces of the end portions of the outer walls 35. Thereafter the inner walls 33 are swung inwards in the direction of the cover top until the tongues 38 move into interlocked relation with the slots 39.

The central portions of the end margins of the top 3| of the cover II are provided with longitudinally extending tongue receiving slots 48. When the cover I! is shifted downwards into its closed position with respect to the body Hi. the locking tongues 21 slide upwards through the slots 40 (see dotted lines in Figure l). The central portions of the outer walls 35 of the ends of the cover are provided with longitudinally extending tongue receiving slots 4i and the central portions of the Ushaped folds 37 are provided aoraeae with longitudinally extending tongue receiving slots 42.. The last mentioned slots, that :is, the slots M and 42, are preferably the same in length as the slots 40. As best shown in Figures 1 and '5, the locking tongues 2 after insertion through the slots 40 in connection with mounting of the cover I l on the body it are adapted to be swung .or bent outwards and then downwards. After such bending of the locking tongues the free ends are inserted into the slots :41 in the central portions of the outer walls 35, are then slit or pulled downwards so they extend through the slots 42 as shown in full lines in Figure 1. When the locking tongues 21 are in their locked or operative position as heretofore described, the inner :end portions extend around the portions of the outer walls 35 that are directly above the slots 4],, the central portions underlie the pertions of the end walls 35 that are directly beneath the slots M, and the free outer end portions extend downwards through the slots &2. Becauseor the inner woven arrangement of the locking tongues with. respect to the slots =4 i and 42, the tongues "when in their operative position serveefiectively to hold the cover 1 l in its closed position. The ears 3-0 on the central portions of the locking tongues are adapted when the tongues are in their locked position to be bent inwards so that the upper edge portions thereof underlie the portions of the outer walls 35 that define the top edges of the slots 4'1. When the ears 3 0 are in place the locking tongues 21 are positively secured in their locked position. When it is desired to remove the cover ii the ears 30 are swung outwards so as to disengage tively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose by reason of the fact that it includes the ear equipped locking tongues 21 which when in their ioperative or locked position serve securely to hold the cover of the container in its closed position on the rectangular 'box-like body iii. By reason of the fact that the locking tongues formed as integral parts of the ends of the body they do not increase the cost of producing the container as a whole.

The invention is not to be understood as .restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a shipping container comprising an open top box-like body formed of comparatively stiff material and embodying a rectangular bottom, a pair. of opposed sides connected to, and extending upwards from, the side margins of the bottom and a pair of opposed ends connected to, and extending upwards from the end margins of the bottom and provided on the top margins thereof with normally upstanding laterally bendable locking tongues, and a complemental cover formed of comparatively stiff material, embodying a rectangular top, a

pair of 'opposed sides connected to, and depending from, the side margins of the top and a'p'air of opposed ends, connected to and depending from, the end margins of the top and in the form of spaced apart outer and inner walls, and having tongue receiving slots formed in theendmargins of its top and tongue receiving slots formed in the outer walls of its ends substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of said outer walls, said tongues being adapted when the cover is shifted downwards into its closed position with respect to the body to pass substantially completely through the first mentioned slots and being further adapted after passing through said first mentioned slots to be bent outwards and downwards and then inserted inwards and downwards through the second mentioned slots :in order to assume a cover locking position wherein portions thereof fit between the portions of said outer and inner walls that are beneath said second mentioned slots.

2. As a new article of manufacture, ashipping container comprising an open top box-like body formed of comparatively stiff material and .embodying a rectangular bottom, .a, pair of opposed sides connected to, and extending upwards from, the side margins of the bottom and a pair of opposed ends connected to, and extending upwards from, the end margins of the bottom and provided on "the :top margins thereof with integral normally upstanding laterally bendable locking tongues, and a complemental cover formed of a one piece blank of compaartivelystifi material, embodying a rectangular top, :a pair of opposed sides connected to, and depending from, the side margins of the top and a pair of opposed ends connected to and depending from the end "margins of the top and consisting of spaced apart outer and inner walls with the bottom margins thereof joined together by 'U-shaped folds, and having tongue receiving slots formed in the end margins of its top, tongue receiving slots formed in the outer walls of its ends substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of said outer walls and tongue receiving slots formed in the U-shaped folds of the ends thereof, said tongues being adapted when the cover is shifted downwards into its closed position with respect to the body to pass substantially completely through the first mentioned slots and being further adapted after passing through said first mentioned slots to be bent outwards and downwards and then inserted inwards through the second mentioned slots and downwards through the third mentioned slots in order to assume a cover locking position wherein portions thereof fit between the portions of said outer and inner walls that are between said second and third mentioned slots.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a shipping container comprising an open top box-like body formed of comparatively stiff material and embodying a rectangular bottom, a pair of opposed sides connected to, and extending upwards from, the side margins of the bottom and a pair of opposed ends connected to, and extending upwards from, the end margins of the bottom and provided on the top margins thereof with integral normally upstanding laterally bendable locking tongues, and a complemental cover formed of a one piece blank of comparatively stiff material, embodying a rectangular top, a pair of opposed sides connected to, and depending from, the side margins of the top and a pair of opposed end-s connected to and depending from the end margins of the top and consisting of spaced apart outer and inner walls with the bottom margins thereof joined together by U-shaped folds, and having tongue receiving slots formed in the end margins of its top, tongue receiving slots formed in the outer walls of its ends substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of said outer walls and tongue receiving slots formed in the U-shaped folds of the ends thereof, said tongues being adapted when the cover is shifted downwards into its closed position with respect to the body to pass substantially completely through the first mentioned slots and being further adapted after passing through said first mentioned slots to be bent outwards and downwards and then inserted inwards through the second mentioned slots and downwards through the third mentioned slots in order to assume a cover locking position wherein portions thereof fit between the portions of said outer and inner walls that are between said second and third mentioned slots, the central portions of the looking tongues being cut and shaped to form integral laterally bendable ears which are adapted when the tongues are in their cover locking position to be bent inwards into a position wherein they are interlocked with the portions of the outer walls of the cover ends directly over the second mentioned slots and serve releasably to retain the tongues in their said cover locking position.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a shipping container comprising an open top box-like body formed of comparatively stiff material and embodying a rectangular bottom, a pair of opposed sides connected to, and extending upwards from the side margins of the bottom and a pair of opposed ends connected to, and extending up wards from, the end margins of the bottom. consisting of outer and inner walls with the top margins thereof joined together by inverted U- shaped folds and having portions of their inner walls cut downwards from their upper edges to form elongated locking tongues which are joined to the upper margins of the other walls by the adjacent portions of the inverted U-shaped folds and are hence capable of being swung laterally, and a complemental cover formed of comparatively stiff material embodying a rectangular top, a pair of opposed sides connected to, and depending from, the side margins of the top and a pair of opposed ends connected to, and depending from, the end margins of the top and in'the form of spaced apart outer and inner walls, and having tongue receiving slots formed in the end margins of its top and tongue receiving slots formed in the outer walls of its ends substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of the last mentioned outer walls, said tongues being adapted when they are swung upward into a vertical position and the cover is shifted downwards into its closed position with respect to the body to pass substantially completely through the first mentioned slots and being further adapted after passing through said first mentioned slots to be bent outwards and downwards and then inserted inwards and downwards through the second mentioned slots in order to assume a cover locking position wherein portions thereof fit between the portions of the outer and inner walls of the cover ends that are beneath said second mentioned slots.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a shipping container comprising an open top box-like body formed of a one piece blank of double faced corrugated board and embodying a rectangular bottom, a pair of opposed sides connected to, and extending upwards from, the side margins of the bottom and a pair of opposed ends connected to, and extending upwards from, the end margins of the bottom, consisting of outer and inner walls with the top margins thereof joined together by inverted U-shaped folds and having the central portions of their inner walls out downwards from their upper edges to form elongated locking tongues which are joined to the central portions of the upper margins of the outer walls by the central portions of the inverted U-shaped folds and are hence capable of being swung laterally, and a complemental cover formed of a one piece blank of double faced corrugated board, embodying a rectangular top, a pair of opposed sides connected to, and depending from, the side margins of the top and a pair of opposed ends connected to, and depending from, the end margins of the top and consisting of spaced apart outer and inner walls with the bottom margins thereof joined together by U-shaped folds, and having tongue receiving slots formed in the central portions of the end margins of said top, tongue receiving slots formed in the central portions of the outer walls of its ends at points substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of the last mentioned outer walls and tongue receiving slots formed in the central portions of the U-shaped folds of the ends thereof, said tongues being adapted when they are swung upwards into a vertical position and the cover is shifted downwards into its closed position with respect to the body to pass substantially completely through the first mentioned slots and being further adapted after passing through said first mentioned slots to be bent outwards and downwards and then inserted inwards through the second mentioned slots and downwards through the third mentioned slots in order to assume a cover looking position wherein portions thereof fit between the portions of the outer and inner walls of the cover ends that are between said second and third mentioned slots.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a shipping container comprising an open top box-like body formed of comparatively stiff material and embodying a rectangular bottom, a pair of opposed sides connected to, and extending upwards from, the side margins of the bottom and a pair of opposed ends connected to, and extending upwards from, the end margins of the bottom, consisting of outer and inner walls with the top margins thereof joined together by inverted U-shaped folds and having the portions of their inner walls cut downwards from their upper edges to form elongated locking tongues which are joined to the upper margins of the outer walls by the adjacent portions of the inverted U-shaped folds and are hence capable of being swung'laterally, and a complemental cover formed of comparatively stiff material, embodying a rectangular top, a pan of opposed sides connected to, and depending from, the side margins of the top and a pair of opposed ends connected to, and depending from, the end margins of the top and consisting of spaced apart outer and inner walls with the bottom margins thereof joined together by U-sha-ped folds, and having tongue receiving slots formed in the end margins of its top, tongue receiving slots formed in the outer walls of its ends substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of the last mentioned outer walls and tongue receiving slots formed in the U-shaped folds of the ends thereof, said tongues being order to assume a cover locking position wherein 10 portions thereof fit between the portions of the outer and inner walls of the cover ends that are between said second and third mentioned slots, the central portions of the locking tongues being out and shaped to form integral laterally bendable ears which are adapted when the tongues are in their cover locking position to be 10' bent inwards into a position wherein they are interlocked with the portions of the outer walls of the cover ends that are directly above the second mentioned slots and serve releasably to retain the tongues in their said cover locking position.

JOHN S. DON'NELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 15 2,316,362 Poe Apr. 13, 1943 2,393,356 Fallert Jan. 22, 1946 2,468,951 Barter May 3, 1949 

